Tonight the Flames were facing a team playing in their third game in four nights, and their back-up in net. Granted the Chicago Blackhawks are a far superior opponent than the Avalanche were, afterall, they are still one of the few to lose in regulation. However, they were coming off back to back shoot-out losses and the goal for Calgary was still the same; dominate a weary opponent, bide your time and capitalize on mistakes without giving up any.

Easy right?

The Rundown

Normally, after what happened in the Flames last outing, it would be a no-brainer to say the team needed to come out with some jump and take it to Hawks early. Not so in this case because there was a high probability that they would get burned by a team like Chicago.

Add to the fact that despite this only being Ray Emery's second start of the year, the Flames have historically had problems getting pucks past the tender, and you have the makings for a cautious, fairly low-event first period.

And that's exactly what we got. No scoring in the first, a powerplay for each team, and a pretty good tilt between Jackman and Bollig. Calgary out-shot Chicago 10-6 but the Hawks took the slight edge in scoring chances 4-3.

In the second period, the tempo started to pick up. The Hawks came out swinging first, dominating the Flames for the first five minutes or so by out-chancing Calgary 3-0. But the Flames weathered the early storm and the game stayed tied. For the rest of the period you could see Calgary start to put the game plan in motion. Moving their feet and subsequently moving the play down the ice, they started to generate some quality chances of their own. In fact, despite the score remaining in a scoreless tie at the end of forty, Calgary out-chanced the Hawks 6-5 while out-shooting them again 10-6.

At some point during the second intermission, someone mocked the hockey Gods so badly, that this game was only going to result in one way. Whether Joel Quenville had a voodoo doll stashed somewhere, Emery sacrificed a live chicken beneath the depths of the Saddledome, or if Patrick Kane beat someone up because they tried to offer their two cents... I don't know.

But the only way to describe what happened next was Bad JuJu!!

The third period began with a big push by the Flames, in fact, the first quarter of the period was all Calgary. Despite that it would be the Hawks to get on the board first, when Patrick "Mr. Cab Driver" Kane" would bat a bouncing puck at Kipper. Miikka got a piece of it with his pad as he came sliding across, but not enough as the puck would trickle into the net as Kipper hugged Shaw's stick.

To the Flames credit, they did not let the goal get them down, nor did it stem their play; if anything it amplified it.

After the goal by Kane, the Flames threw wave after wave after wave at the Hawks. They were relentless in their assaults and had Chicago reeling by the midpoint of the period. Only no one told Emery. With every wave and every assault, Emery seemed to make more and more unlikely saves. Even the announcers said, "Glencross is going to need therapy after this game!" And it was true. Curtis alone was stopped on several chances that were almost certain goals, but with Quenville's voodoo doll and the bad juju and all... Chicago kept their lead.

FINALLY!!! At 13:23 of the third, Dennis Wideman... with the patience of Job, the nerves of a sniper, and the forethought that they just couldn't put the puck past Emery.... Waited, waited and then put the puck in off Brent Seabrook's skate. Whatever, we'll take it! 1-1. It was a power play goal against a team that was 23 for 23 on the road with their PK, and it circumvented the voodoo sh...tuff, so it was all good.

Then the improbable and unimaginable happened. The high flying, goal scoring, Jay Bouwmeester joined the rush late and snapped a beauty past Emery with only 35 seconds left in regulation. Like money in the bank, 2 points were coming the Flames way; no way this one could go south right?

Yeah, well Quenville bent over and picked up his doll that he had tossed down the hall after Wideman cheated fate, and gave the little guy a jab. Bang, Marian Hossa ties the game with 2.8 seconds left on the ticker, and all Flames fans thought their tickers had just stopped.

The Flames did everything right in the third. They out-shot Chicago 24-6, 20... yes TWENTY of those shots were scoring chances (so were all 6 of the Hawks shots). They went 1 for 2 on the PP, yet were still tied and the teams were going to overtime.

The extra frame didn't help Chicago at all, but Emery did. The Flames dominated, and I mean Dominated the Hawks in OT, out-shooting them 3-1 and out-chancing them 6-0. Emery stopped all three and on 26 different occassions, the Hawks players blocked shots from Calgary. Despite a power play for the Flames, they were going to a shoot-out. It was a travesty, it was robbery, it was unfair. Whatever you wanna call it, that's what it was. Even CBC's Elliotte Friedman commented on twitter...

The shoot-out was less exciting and quite frankly predictable. Even though it was nice to see Hudler and Cervenka join Tanguay as the trio, all three were unsuccessful, while ol' "Mr. Cab Driver" was able to tuck the puck between Kipper's pads for the win. Game over.

Why the Flames Lost...

Been over this... Picture says a thousand words!

Red Warrior

I'm going to go with a couple of guys tonight. Sharing the honour will be Mikael Backlund and Curtis Glencross.

In the first period, Calgary's top 2 lines had zero shots; Backs had three on his own. Once again he was flying tonight and making things happen, creating chances in the offensive zone.

His line continued to dominate in the second as Stempniak taking the lead in shots taken by Flames players.

In the third, it was the Curtis Glencross show, unfortunately minus an appearence from Scoreface. In the waves of assaults thrown at Emery, it was Glencross that should have benefitted the most. He hit the crossbar, tipped two more directly at the net and could have two more from each side of the net. All denied by Emery and the iron.

Sum it up

This is going to be a tough one for the boys to take. It's not going to be enough to say at least they took a point away from the Chicago Blackhawks.

They dominated, they deserved the win and they were denied. But hey, it is what it is and they have to move on from this.

I'm not going to take any pot-shots tonight or assign any blame. Kipper looked miles ahead of how he played two nights ago and the defense was pretty solid holding the Hawks to 6 shots each period and then shutting them down in OT.

Despite the loss, it was clearly the best game the Flames have played this season. Many fans commenting on just how entertaining the team looks. That's a plus isn't it?

And DID YOU SEE THAT CRAZY PASS CERVENKA MADE FROM BETWEEN HIS LEGS??? This guy has some sick skills with the puck.

They have two days to be pissed and then get over this one. Leave it in Calgary as they now embark on a three game road trip... they don't need the extra bagage.

Things get under way in Detroit on Tuesday. Game time is 5:30 on SNET-W

Vintage Flame is a Calgary based sports junkie that prefers to call hockey a "religion" rather than an addiction. He believes there are two types of hockey fans. Those who cheer for the Flames, and those who don't understand the sport yet. Follow Vintage_Flame on Twitter

I posted this a couple of days ago but not sure if you were able to read it so here it is again.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I had heard some things about Iggy that I would share. The source was a buddy of mine who's job puts him shoulder to shoulder with sports and entertainment people from time to time. While at my place over the holidays he relayed to me some things he was told by one former Flame coach who eagerly bent his ear for a while over a couple of beers. Showed me a picture another buddy of his took while the two were talking to back it up. With regards to Iggy the ex coach did not think the Flames would win the cup with him on the team. He said that Iggy would often tell the team they were going to do things differently once he left the room. There were confrontations with him from time to time. He also said that he did not think the Flames would move Iginla and they would do what they could to try to keep him here for the rest of his career. My buddy did caution that he was also told by someone that night that what this particular ex coach said when he is having a couple of brew should be taken with a grain of salt. With regard to personal issues my buddy was also told by someone else that lockout life at home may not have been the best of times for Iginla and he was pretty happy to get back to playing again. Maybe there is something to that story. When looking at Iginla's career here he really hasn't had a lot of adversity to deal with that I can remember.

No I never did read that post. I have heard similar personal issue stories myself. I think there is a dynamic that will be very at play as to whether he resigns or not. Like you, I am really excited to see the complimentary pieces that Hudler, Cerevenka, Brodie, Backlund is stepping up are bringing to this team. Dejavu of 04 when Donavon Nillsen & Niemenen were scoring big goals & providing huge goals. When was the last time we saw the Flames attack in waves like last night. I'm more excited about this team than I ever thought I would be. But it's time for changing of the guard. I have trouble understanding all these Iggy for lifers drum beaters. Why wasnt Maccinnis a Flame for life, or Suter, or Mikey Vernon or Fleury or Nieuy. They all moved on, some went on to win another Cup. All these guys won us a Cup, Iggy & Kipper havent. They will always be some the best Flame players in our history regardless where they finish their career.

I think what some people on here seem to think is that we have to tank to get McKinnon or Jones. I just don't think that is the case. This is a strong draft. Regardless of how we play, if we continue to drag the bottom depths, selling off a few vets, and that includes Iggy and Kipper if need be, and then maybe trading up could allow us 3 top 15 picks. Every draft has guys that slip in the draft for whatever reason. Remember Grigorenko just last year.

I think so far this team has shown that is has some guys ready to take the mantle; no longer do we 'need' Iggy to carry the mail. I don't want him to go but I do want him to win a cup.

Our own pick could be top 5 if this continues. Trade and acquire 3 1st rnd's and hopefully trade up. Maybe Barkov or Monohan,, or Ristolainen all slip to us. My point is, for the 1st time in a long time we don't have to sell all our assets, because we only have a few, and sink to last to build up our future.

I agree, except getting 3 top picks out of the top fifteen.Teams willing to give up there first rounders for Iggy and Kipper will be top 6 looking for a final push.That will dictate 20 to 30th picks,and i,am not sure how you can turn those into the 15th and lower.

"After a very very favorable schedule to start, the Flames are done. No one can actually think any differently. Please start looking at making the deals needed to move this franchise forward."

I had to look a little deeper, because I couldn't figure out what you were talking about. Now I see. The combined records of the Flames opposition is 26-9-7. That is not including their records against the Flames. Very, VERY favourable schedule indeed. Should have been automatic points.

Favorable in that we have played mainly at home including games against Anaheim who is not considered a playoff team by many. Also, we got Colorado on the back end of a back to back coming from Vancouver after being blown out by Edmonton and Vancouver in their 2 previous games. They also gave their back up his 1st start. Last night we played Chicago who were also playing their 3rd game in 4 nights and traveling from Vancouver after an overtime game. They also started their back up. I would say we have had a very favorable schedule.

I'm an Oilers fan, but I have to say that based on the start the Flames have had, they're bound to turn this around. They're second in the league in shots per game at 33.8, and second in shots against per game as well, allowing only 25 per night. Over the long haul the team has issues due to the age of the core, but right now they are playing at a very high level. It's a hard thing for me to say, but if the Flames keep this up all year they're in the playoffs.

Appreciate you coming by and letting the majority around here know that we're not all just nuts.

I agree that the Flames will undoubtedly turn this around. The one thing I do question is cif they will do it in time, that always seems to be teh main issue with this team.

Making a season or playoff saving surge, only to fall short because they run out of games, and waste games in hand.

It's been a common fault over teh past few years, but I definitely see more promise in this group.

Wasting your breath. Tired of reading comments like this. This team isn't going to enter a rebuilding stage. Get over it. I know plenty of Oil fans who have said "enough is enough, it's time to win." I have no issue with this team being a competitive team every night, while injecting youth into the line up. Finishing 9th or 10th is better then 30th.

We have lots of prospects to look forward to and the Flames have done a great job in the past few years of putting more effort into the draft and finding talent.

Just to name a few. Stop saying we need to trade Iggy and Kipper, and blow this team up. That isn't necessarily the answer. I really have no issue paying to go watch the Flames play and finish in 9th 10th or wherever. It's a sport. It's about entertainment, and it's about winning.

Stay the course, these games have been fun.

You are right. That list of prospects is daunting to say the least. Let's keep holding on to what we have and enjoy this great ride we are on. Who needs to try to win?

I am so sick of trade JI crap he is a flame forever and if you got a problem with that stop watchin. He is one of the best players all time and all I here is trade him did det trade stevey y no did col trade sakic no I don't understand what you half ass fans think he owes us.let him retire as the best flame ever whatever the outcome.and yes this team is way better than their record so far.

Sakic and Yzerman captained teams to many play off series wins and about 7 Cups. I wouldn't trade that either. They were great players who helped make their teams great. Iggy has been a great player on a mediocre team.

Not saying I enjoy losing. If you would of read what I said it was that I want to win, hence why I don't want this team to blow it up. This team has played a hell of a lot better than what their record shows, and I enjoy these games.

Not saying I enjoy losing. If you would of read what I said it was that I want to win, hence why I don't want this team to blow it up. This team has played a hell of a lot better than what their record shows, and I enjoy these games.

If you truly want to win you need to take some risks. This team is declining. Moving Kipper and Iggy for drafts and young prospects won't be blowing it up at all. It will be giving the franchise with one playoff series winning season in the last 23 years a reason to hope for something better.

If you move Iggy and Kipper, you pretty much are calling it. You're saying losing a 30 goal scorer and a goaltender who played one of his best season of his career last year is giving us more hope? Draft picks and prospects don't always work out.

Don't get me wrong, I know this team is a long ways from a Stanley Cup. But I personally don't feel like spending 5 years at the bottom of the league.

Do you honestly think that moving Iggy and Kipper will put us in the bottom of the league for 5 years. Keeping Iggy and Kipper will very soon ensure we are bottom of the league. They're both still good players but soon, like next year or 2, they will not be able to do the roles they are currently expected to do, if they already aren't there.

If you move Iggy and Kipper, you pretty much are calling it. You're saying losing a 30 goal scorer and a goaltender who played one of his best season of his career last year is giving us more hope? Draft picks and prospects don't always work out.

Superstar draft picks would indeed provide more hope than an old declining former star.

I think most fans can't relate and have no idea what it's like to have an elite draft pick. A superstar. Elite. The last one we had was Iggy and he drove the team for over a decade. If you think Sven is that calibre of player you are dreaming. We have ZERO elite prospects. None.

What is the point of trying to make the playoffs and just get spanked. Wouldn't it be better to draft the next Iggy and move on with the hope of being a contender in 3-4 years. A team that EXPECTS to make the playoffs and worries about home ice advantage instead of praying we can claw into 8th.

And don't give me that LA won it from 8th, anything can happen once you get in BS. We all know that LA team was a miserable failure for the first half and had no business being in 8th. They were picked as a favourite before the season. LA was the best team in the west from the allstar break on last year. They were considered a contender from day 1, not a team perennially hoping and praying to claw into the playoffs.

I'm so tired of being mediocre. Hoping to make the playoffs is lame. I want to be expected to make it and fight all year for positioning. With a 40 year old core and zero elite prospects that will never, ever happen.

The reason mgmt keeps grinding away with this middling team is because fans are ok with it. I'm not, I hate the direction and I pray every day we lose the next 10 games in a row so that the team has no choice but to trade iggy and let him win the cup he deserves and will never win in Calgary while we finally get a chance to draft an ELITE prospect. As many have pointed out, drafting is risky, which is why we need top 3. There is little risk in the top 3 of a draft.

To expand on this.., we brag about how we didn't suck like the oilers. At least we aren't as bad as them etc. but outside of Calgary other teams and fans around the NHL just see two teams who both missed the playoffs for the last 3 years. Neither team was a contender or a factor in any way.

During those 3 years of futility, the Oilers got Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent Hopkins, and Yakupov. Players who will transform their team for the next 10 years, maybe longer.

Getting 9th place is easily the worst spot to finish. A few exciting games down the stretch hoping to grind into the playoffs are soon forgotten. Elite superstar draft picks transform your team for decades.

Superstar draft picks would indeed provide more hope than an old declining former star.

I think most fans can't relate and have no idea what it's like to have an elite draft pick. A superstar. Elite. The last one we had was Iggy and he drove the team for over a decade. If you think Sven is that calibre of player you are dreaming. We have ZERO elite prospects. None.

What is the point of trying to make the playoffs and just get spanked. Wouldn't it be better to draft the next Iggy and move on with the hope of being a contender in 3-4 years. A team that EXPECTS to make the playoffs and worries about home ice advantage instead of praying we can claw into 8th.

And don't give me that LA won it from 8th, anything can happen once you get in BS. We all know that LA team was a miserable failure for the first half and had no business being in 8th. They were picked as a favourite before the season. LA was the best team in the west from the allstar break on last year. They were considered a contender from day 1, not a team perennially hoping and praying to claw into the playoffs.

I'm so tired of being mediocre. Hoping to make the playoffs is lame. I want to be expected to make it and fight all year for positioning. With a 40 year old core and zero elite prospects that will never, ever happen.

The reason mgmt keeps grinding away with this middling team is because fans are ok with it. I'm not, I hate the direction and I pray every day we lose the next 10 games in a row so that the team has no choice but to trade iggy and let him win the cup he deserves and will never win in Calgary while we finally get a chance to draft an ELITE prospect. As many have pointed out, drafting is risky, which is why we need top 3. There is little risk in the top 3 of a draft.

Well said Kurt. The only thing I disagree with is that Edmonton jettisoned literally everything except Horcoff & Hemsky & they're next. Calgary have some pieces. Calgary have veterans that can teach the young players how to win. Calgary does have some young players that I think its too soon to tell if they are elite or not. Sven, maybe, Gaudreau, maybe, Brossoit, maybe. But we are getting close to seeing whether they do or not. Oilers are sucking not only to get back elite players but they are now having visions of dynasty dancing in their heads. The nightmare in these visions is called Cap. We dont need 3 1st overalls to become a legit contender again but we do need to maximize our assets which happen to be hockey players. But dont worry about offending these players, thats why they get paid the big bucks, its comes with the business territory. Everything should be about winning the Cup, too many on here are forgetting what that lockout was all about, winning & money & they go hand in hand.

We don't HAVE tTO tank to get Mckinnon or Jones and it is a deep draft, but if aren't going to make the playoffs, and losing to Colorado shows the same inconsistencies of the last few years then it is time to give Iggy and Kipper a chance somewhere. I love the way this team is playing but it obviously won't be enough unless we start winning every game. My fear is that this team does pull it together to tease fans once again - we don't trade iggy and lose him for nothing and again do not draft in the top 10 - Baertshi is great but not a franchise player who can carry this team. To be hones Mckinnon is exactly what this team needs. If we can't get in the top 6 of this conference by March then Feaster should cripple us. Play Irving every other game and move some players.

While I agree somewhat with some of your points, and that we do have some good prospects like gaudreau, baertshi, granlund etc... these are all sitll the complementary pieces like the Loobs and Hrdinas that you need to win (and some of them may not work out), but can't carry your franchise. As an organization, the Flames need to address who will be the next Nieuwendyk, the next Iggy. Yes, as you point out losing Iggy would mean losing a 30+ scorer, but past management has put this team in a position that it has to find the future franchise players and fast. Trading Nieuwendyk was tough on the fans, but we know the how that story ended.

Sutter put a great team together for 08-09, he sacrificed our future but it was a team that would have been a contender if not for our entire top 4 D being injured. That was bad luck, but as a rule: "It takes 5 years to build a team and then you try like hell to keep it together for 2 or 3 years." Sutter started in 04 and it ended in 09. Sad to say, but it is time for this team to move.

Im curious as to how good of a handle Flames marketing (i.e. Ken King) has on the tolerance the season seat holders have for anything resembling a scorched earth rebuild.

And in context.... trading iggy and kipper at this very late point in there useful life cycles probably doesn't fetch anything representing a home run in current roster players coming back. Which leads one to the observation that an accumulation of draft picks is the most potential value likely available in a trade.

Given recent picks... would one entrust the replacement of iggy and kipper in the organizations asset chest to this group of scouts and management?

Clearly its not difficult to grab a good player out of Seth Jones and the two moose heads. Beyond that....

People can say theFlames ahve played well all they want. If that's the case, it'll be itneresting to see how they make out when they play poorly.

I've liked Hudler and Cervenka so far. I can live with Wideman too, like I've said before, he's as advertised and his contract is too long, but I can live with that.

Iginla's been a selfish 1-dimensional floater for years now. He sure as hell doesn't belong in the same conversation as Sakic and Yzerman.

Iginla, Cammi and Kipper are all worth more at the deadline though. When are people going to realize it's not 2004 anymore? Iginla era is over and he needs to be jettisoned so that the team can move on. New leadership is required.

All 3 of those pieces would net decent returns at the deadline. And I'd consider JBo, but the potential in the return would have to be really worth it.

Ramo steps in next year. Sure, it's a gamble, but one worth taking.

Backlund, Baertschi, Glencross, Stempniak, Hudler, Cervenka and Tanguay - I can live with all those guys. They can all skate, they all work hard and they can all contribute offensively or at least on possession.

The team doesn't tank into oblivion, but they also potentially receive some picks and/or prospects who start filling in the holes.

No team wins the Cup without 3 or 4 superstars in their 20's and frankly, I only care about winning the Cup and not 9th or 10th. The fact that some fans are happy with that shows just how long Calgary has been a loser club.

Sorry, but Iginla isn't leading us anywhere, especially next year at 36 years old. Get over it and move on.

And while fans here are once again fawning over the current group of prospects as though we were the Pilers circa 1979, they'd best be advised to go back and read the press clippings and fan hype over the previous few generations of prospects. Not nearly as many make it to the NHL work out as well once in the NHL as people speculate.

We have improved in that area, but some fans here act as though Baertschi is good for 40 this year and Gaudreau is a lock for a p/pg next season.

Point is this: Calgary needs more young top end talent and the draft is the only way to do that and in order to get and quickly, they need to acquire more picks. 2013 is both high end and deep so the team had better not blow their last good chance at real change.

For the love of Christ...we should have a mod here auto-nuking any post that contains "Jarome doesn't have the same passion anymore." Trying to think why else a veteran in his mid-30's continually destroys his teammates in preseason fitness testing, but I'm drawing blanks.

We already have to digest enough mindless rhetoric from the mainstream media that doesn't stay up late enough to watch us play, I don't think we to propagate awful, lazy narratives ourselves.

People can say theFlames ahve played well all they want. If that's the case, it'll be itneresting to see how they make out when they play poorly.

I've liked Hudler and Cervenka so far. I can live with Wideman too, like I've said before, he's as advertised and his contract is too long, but I can live with that.

Iginla's been a selfish 1-dimensional floater for years now. He sure as hell doesn't belong in the same conversation as Sakic and Yzerman.

Iginla, Cammi and Kipper are all worth more at the deadline though. When are people going to realize it's not 2004 anymore? Iginla era is over and he needs to be jettisoned so that the team can move on. New leadership is required.

All 3 of those pieces would net decent returns at the deadline. And I'd consider JBo, but the potential in the return would have to be really worth it.

Ramo steps in next year. Sure, it's a gamble, but one worth taking.

Backlund, Baertschi, Glencross, Stempniak, Hudler, Cervenka and Tanguay - I can live with all those guys. They can all skate, they all work hard and they can all contribute offensively or at least on possession.

The team doesn't tank into oblivion, but they also potentially receive some picks and/or prospects who start filling in the holes.

No team wins the Cup without 3 or 4 superstars in their 20's and frankly, I only care about winning the Cup and not 9th or 10th. The fact that some fans are happy with that shows just how long Calgary has been a loser club.

Sorry, but Iginla isn't leading us anywhere, especially next year at 36 years old. Get over it and move on.

And while fans here are once again fawning over the current group of prospects as though we were the Pilers circa 1979, they'd best be advised to go back and read the press clippings and fan hype over the previous few generations of prospects. Not nearly as many make it to the NHL work out as well once in the NHL as people speculate.

We have improved in that area, but some fans here act as though Baertschi is good for 40 this year and Gaudreau is a lock for a p/pg next season.

Point is this: Calgary needs more young top end talent and the draft is the only way to do that and in order to get and quickly, they need to acquire more picks. 2013 is both high end and deep so the team had better not blow their last good chance at real change.

Which they probably will.

^ what he said!!

People saying they don't trust the scouts and draft picks outside the top 3 are risky. I agree! Simple solution. Get 29th or 30th. Then you are guaranteed top 3. Simple.

I'd suggest that trading kipper anytime soon would do the trick. No kipper and this team is done. Iggy will ask out. Presto.

People expecting Sven to be the new superstar Iggy should share what they are smoking with the rest of us.